Christmas Gift Guide: People That Are Hard to Buy For

There’s no better feeling that finding the perfect gift for someone that you know they’ll love. But somehow, almost every year, that one person appears on your Christmas list that you have no idea what to get. They might be someone you don’t know very well or maybe they’re just difficult to buy for. Whatever the case may be, these thoughtful gift ideas might save you from those zombie Christmas shopper feels.

The Kris Kringle

Kris Kringle aka. Secret Santa is a fun little tradition that many workplaces, classes and other groups like to take part in. Basically everyone picks a name out of a hat and whoever you get, is the person you need to buy a present for. Every version of this has a different set of rules, with some having price limits and others having a certain theme.

DIY food hamper

Let’s face it, everyone loves food! It’s hard to go wrong with a box of chocolates but sometimes people have certain dietary requirements and you don’t want to give someone a bunch of stuff they can’t eat. Do a little snooping (and it shouldn’t take much) to find out what food they love and put together a little snack hamper.

If they’re a health fanatic, you might want to include some protein balls, sugar free chocolate and mixed nuts. If they have more of a sweet tooth, you could gather all their favourite chocolates and call it a chocoholics hamper!

Gift voucher

This may be an unpopular choice, as many people don’t consider a gift card to be a proper present. But sometimes if you don’t know a person very well, gift cards are quite logical. You can go broad and get a voucher that covers a shopping centre chain, or you can do a little digging and find out what their interests are and focus on a specialised store or experience.

To take it a step further, you might want present the voucher in a unique way. You could write a really lovely message in a card and attach voucher inside or you could even decorate a mason jar and pop in some festive chocolates, alongside the gift card.

The In-laws

Buying a present for your in-laws is always a bit stressful, especially if you’re new to the family. You want to get a gift they’ll love but you also want to make a good impression. Sometimes thoughtful gifts stand out far more than the most expensive kitchen appliance. So if you’re going halvies with your partner for a fancy blender, but you want to give them a little something that’s just from you, here’s a couple of sweet ideas.

Framed family photo or print

Ask your partner to track down some old family photographs and choose one that stands out. This might be a cute shot of the children of the family or a candid from Christmas morning 15 years ago. Blow up the size of the family snap and pop it in a nice frame that they can hang in their home. Try and stick to basic colours for the frame, so it suits their theme!

If you want to get really creative, there are several illustrators on sites like Etsy, who will sketch up a gorgeous print, if you provide them with a photograph. It’s something a bit different and you can almost guarantee that they won’t have anything like it!

A board game

Your in-laws are (hopefully) people that you want to spend quality time with and there’s no better way to bond, than over a good old fashioned board game! This may seem a little outdated, considering the apps, video games, TV shows and other forms of entertainment that are now available to us. Unfortunately, very few of these promote family interaction.

There are a ton of different board games you can choose from, ranging from the classics – Pictionary, Scattergories and Trivial Pursuit to more adult risqué games like Cards Against Humanity. If you know a particular TV series or movie they love, there are also themed board games, based on particular franchises. Just steer clear of Monopoly because we all know how that ends…

The Teenager

It can be hard to keep up with what’s trendy in the teenage world, especially if you’re not one! Fads seems to come and go quicker than you can binge a TV series on Netflix. So when it comes to finding a gift for a teenage family member or friend, you want to avoid being the oldie with no clue, at all costs! Luckily, there are some things that never really change.

Polaroid and action cameras

As you may have noticed, most teens feel the need to capture almost everything. Polaroid cameras have been around for decades and every generation seem to love them! Even with the takeover of smartphones, there’s something fun about having an instant copy of a photo, which you can pop up in your room or stick in your diary.

There are a few different types of Polaroid cameras on the market, which vary in price and style. The most affordable and popular one is still probably the Fugifilm Instax Mini, which is under $100.00 AUD. Alternatively, there are now portable printers like the HP Sprocket, which allows you to print photos directly from your phone via Bluetooth. This is definitely less interactive but may be an option for those who are not as interested in the complete camera experience.

If you know a more energetic teen, an action camera may be a more appropriate choice. They allow you to film different experiences, without many of the limitations of standard cameras or phones. GoPro’s are the top selling action cameras, with a range of accessories to help you obtain the best quality footage possible. They are on the pricer side, so if you’re looking for a more affordable option, brands like Kaiser Baas offer great little cameras at a reasonable price.

DIY beauty bag

This gives you the chance to be a little more creative! Although it leans slightly more towards teenage girls, you can definitely make it work for boys too. Pick out a cute makeup or toiletries bag and fill it with different beauty bits.

For a girl you might include things like makeup, nail polish, hair treatment, bath bombs, face masks and body scrub. For a boy you could include some shower gel, razors or clippers, shaving cream, body mist, face wash and teeth whitening products. It’s great because it gives them a variety of products to try out and encourages grooming and personal hygiene.

The Teacher

Throughout life, there are all kinds of teachers that help us grow and develop in ways that we don’t even realise. Whether it’s in the classroom or on the sporting field, the teachers in our lives truly do help shape who we are. It’s normal to want to show your appreciation for a teacher or coach but don’t forget, most people will feel this way. School teachers in particular receive an excess of chocolates and #1 teacher mugs every year, so sometimes it pays to think outside the box.

Monogrammed stationary

Whether you’re a violin or a science teacher, being responsible for others, means that some level of organisation is involved. A big part of organisation is planning, which is where cute stationary comes in! Most teachers, especially school teachers, may want to choose their own diary or planner for the new year but that still leaves plenty of options! There’s notepads, laptop covers, calendars, mouse pads, pencil holders, clipboards and the list goes on.

To add a little touch to the gift, many online stores now offer monogramming. The Daily Edited has a wonderful range of quality products that are for both men and women. The style is quite minimal, so you don’t have to worry about it clashing with any existing stationary.

Drink bottle or reusable coffee cup

Another thing you can assume about most teachers, is that their schedules are pretty hectic, so they’re often on the go. A nice, good quality drink bottle or reusable coffee cup can be extremely useful to them during lunchtime duty, or in the brief break between first and second half of a match.

S’well is an online store that sells beautiful drink bottles, reusable coffee cups, tumblers and related accessories. All products are BPA-free and are available in a number of beautiful designs. The best thing about S’well products, is how well they work. They keep cold drinks cool for 24 hours and hot drinks warm for 12 hours, which is great for teachers who have endless interruptions.